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CV Tips

Your CV makes the first impression during an IT job search. The more a CV effectively captures and markets a candidate's skills and accomplishments, the more likely that candidate will stand out in a group of applicants.

CV Best Practices

Whether your CV is in need of an update or you are taking the first step to create one, here are some best practices and tips to help.

Update Your CV Often

Keeping your CV updated with your most recent accomplishments is the best way to ensure you are contacted about the most relevant job opportunities. Share your updated CV with TEKsystems® in order to be considered for opportunities that align with your skills.

Tailor Your CV

Take some time to think about what you are trying to achieve professionally. What is your dream job? Tailor your CV to make sure your objectives are clear and the skills you possess are highlighted. An executive summary that lists your key skills can also help to clearly identify what you have done and what you are looking to do next.

Keep It Simple

Most hiring managers are reviewing many candidates and may bypass lengthy or wordy CVs. Keep your CV concise. Explain your past performance in a way that shows the business benefits you provided to your past employers.

Show Your Value

When describing your responsibilities in a position you held, discuss the outcomes you achieved. Ask yourself, “Why did my employer want me to do this task? What would happen if the task was not done?” These questions will help you uncover the true impact you made to the business.

Remember the Business

Leaders value IT professionals who understand their industry and their business. Ensure you share this insight on your CV in addition to your technical skills.

Pay Attention to Detail

Grammar and spelling errors are unacceptable when you apply for a job. Proofread your CV and get another opinion. Even the best software cannot detect usage errors or catch every mistake. A second set of eyes can help spot and correct errors that you may miss.

Be Honest

While you should emphasise your accomplishments and the role you played in helping your employers achieve their goals, do not go further than the truth by embellishing or exaggerating. Once in a position, the truth will reveal itself.

Create Different Versions

Due to the assortment of software programmes to read and write documents, job seekers should have a CV available in a variety of file formats. If you are posting your CV on job boards or websites, having it in a plain text format (.rtf and .txt) or Microsoft Word (.doc) is preferable. If you are submitting your CV to an employer, PDF is the best choice because it will ensure consistency regardless of the programme or hardware used to view it.

Continue to Learn

Job seekers, especially those in the IT field, should stay current with new trends and skills. Stay up to speed by targeting relevant work experiences and/or outside learning.

Ask for Feedback

Do not feel uncomfortable asking for help; we have all been on the hunt for a rewarding position at some point! Ask your TEKsystems consultant to read over your CV and provide candid feedback on how you could improve it.